The fruit of life

Understanding the "fruit of life:" Luis Casares, in his old shop on South Geddes Street, prepares to cut the hair of Joe Enriquez.

For the last 15 years or so, my barber has been Luis Casares, better known as "Louie." He used to run a shop with Phil Mallara on South Geddes Street - in the heart of the territory covered by the Geddes Street blog. Luis eventually bought the shop, and now works out of the Regional Market, where he cuts hair with veteran barber George Raite.

I was in there today, and I commented on my beard - much of it coming in gray. Half-kidding, I told Luis that maybe I should shave it off. He laughed, shook his head and grabbed the gray hair.